Oct 3, 2009 Wester Carribean

[schmoopiecat]

It has been a long time since I've posted. I have had a chance to read all your posts. Welcome to all of our new families. It seems that we are getting rather large. As soon as this Celebration for Katelin is over (aka baby shower) I may have a chance to visit more often. Still looking for a photo of Donald & me to post. The only ones I have that are good are from our 30th anniversary 2 1/2 years ago. We renewed our vows with Kristi, Richard & Lilli standing up for us. Now that was a party.

I can't remember what our cabin number is. It's been a long time since we booked & I've slept since then. I do know the Kristi is at one end & we are at the other. Lilli will have a long walk to get back & forth between our cabins.

For now all my time is spend with getting ready for Vietnam. I feel so honored that I get to tag along when Richard & Kriti pick up Katelin. This family has been such a blessing to us and to see it grow is awesome. It's a good thing they are our best friends. I have had 6 vaccine shots & still have 2 to go in order to travel internationaly. The way I look at it is that it is for the kids, so it makes it all worth while.

Well, I've rambled enough. More later & can't wait to meet you all.
Disney Dreamers Unite!

 

[dismom73]

Well, I FINALLY got my birthday present from DH. I say finally because my birthday is July 17 (for those of you that are true Disney Freaks, I mean Fans, you will know that my b-day is the anniversary of the day DL opened) anyway moving on. My DH told me that he ordered it two weeks before my birthday, but it has been "delayed". I have been hounding him to cancel the order and call and complain, no company should take over 3 months to deliver anything. Well, if only I had known that he had ordered from the DMV I would have understood...yep I got personalized liscense plates. Now mind you that my Honda minivan is a rolling sounviner, I have the DCL antana ball, that I change out for the soccer Mickey head during soccer season. I have the DL liscense plate cover and I have the cute family of 5 stickers (mom, dad and 3 DD's) on the back window, I had the DCL plate on the front, until I found out that those are illegal in CA (it is required by law to have a front license plate here). Anyway my plate reads DISYFAM. My car is now complete.
I just thought I would share with those who might appreciate my excitment! Have a great day.

 

[disneydiva16]

Andrea that is awesome!! Very cool present. Happy belated birthday to you

Michelle dont act like you don't remember Delta Gamma Phi... I voted for you to be president, but they thought you would make a better secretary...Girl dont be hatin'!!! Once a sista always a sista!!

Anyhoot, talk to everyone later

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

OMG Robin....LMAO U been drinkin? LOL That's funny cause had I been a Delta I definately would have been the secretary.. I am so darn organized its sick

I am excited cause I found somethings to make for FE's. I am starting now to make everything cause I am so afraid how large this thread will get.

Has anyone ever shipped a box to DCL before ya left? I have read some threads which said people shipped things and they were waitin in their staterooms. I wanna ship my FE gifts but afraid if they aren't there I won't have anything to give. Plus I thought about sending our sand toys /mickey shovels we got at Castaway. that way I have less luggage. Any info on that???

 

[Magic3forme]

OMG Robin....LMAO U been drinkin? LOL That's funny cause had I been a Delta I definately would have been the secretary.. I am so darn organized its sick

I am excited cause I found somethings to make for FE's. I am starting now to make everything cause I am so afraid how large this thread will get.

Has anyone ever shipped a box to DCL before ya left? I have read some threads which said people shipped things and they were waitin in their staterooms. I wanna ship my FE gifts but afraid if they aren't there I won't have anything to give. Plus I thought about sending our sand toys /mickey shovels we got at Castaway. that way I have less luggage. Any info on that???

a bunch from our cruise 2 weeks ago shipped their f/e gifts ahead of time . Everyones made it on time.

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

Yeah tonight I started really making some of my FE gifts. It will give me something to do over the winter since we will be in snow heaven I am sure. But making these things for the adults and kids makes me even more excited that in like 352 days or whatever we will be sunning it on the Magic. I think I am sendin a few boxes too. Will make it easier instead of having extra suitcases!
Got a hotel room for Friday night and got a good deal, so I am happy about that. Now I just need airfare!! Saw some great deals on Spirit for Jan so I can only hope that these deals appear in October!!

I hope everyone is doing well. Have a great night!

 

[disneydiva16]

Michelle-What hotel did you book? I would love to stay at the Hyatt (is that the one at the airport) but I think it is kinda pricey. I was looking at one that has a free airport shuttle. It is the Quality Inn Airport. It is $64.00 per nite. I figured that I am only sleeping there and using the pool so it doesnt have to be the best hotel. It looked nice in the pictures.

I priced airfare (for august) and it came up $218.00pp on Delta. I am hoping it stays low like that. We shall see. I am also shipping my FE gifts down to port. It just seems easier and less hassle. I will just keep my fingers crossed that they dont get lost!!

Have a great morning!!!

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

Robin...I am not staying at the airport. We are getting a cheap car rental(50 for a chevy impala) for Friday and driving to Port and staying. I like to have control of when I arrive at the port and most car services want to take you at 10:30 and I arrive before that. So my sis,myself,and the kids will get dropped off with the luggage and check in while the husbands drop the car at the rental place. My husband hates the time waiting to get on so it keeps him busy while I do all the checking in and registering the kids for clubs and the husbands arrive and just get their key to the world cards on their own.

So we are staying at a comfort inn&suites on atlantic ave. I got a 2db and sofabed for $99. I thought it was good cause my sis and her family are splitting the cost and sharing the room. Though i heard I could go on priceline and try and get it for $50. So i just might try.=) Then when we return(boohoo) we are havng a limo pick us up at port and take us where ever we diecide we are going...LOL

As for airfare.....right now I could get spirit air for $100pp/rt so I am hoping that I find at least that for Oct. i actually have always paid less. In the last 5 airfare trips my highest for 4 people roundtrip was $365 total. So I am crossing my fingers. I would love to find what I pd last oct and dec. 4 People roundtrip $80 total....how awesome is that. Oh such luck if I could get that!

 

[dismom73]

Robin--just some food for thought....if you are going to stay near the airport I highly recomend staying at the hyatt. I think the best deals I've seen there are about $99. But if you take a few things into consideration it could actually cost the same, or at least be worth the difference. If you get on a shuttle with ALL of your luggage you tip the driver going and you tip the driver coming back. Not to mention it is a pain in the behind to load up all that luggage twice, plus count the waiting time for the shuttle and the annoyed looks of all the bussiness travelers on the shuttle that have one bag and sit there and glare at you while all of your bags are being fit into the back of the shuttle like puzzle pieces. Then if you want to get something to eat after you check in you are very limited (either hotel food, which is often VERY pricey or whatever is in walking distance) At the airport there are LOTS of food options from sit down to fast food. Plus the Hyatt is a really nice hotel. Very clean, very nice beds and bathrooms etc. So for about $30 more, minus the amount you would have paid for tips, it is WELL worth it. OK, no pressure, just my opinion (can you tell I've stayed there before).
As far as where we are staying, that depends. The last time we went we stayed by the port and got there nice and early. We will likely do this again. However, I am slightly considering going to MNSSHP that Friday night, in which case we would stay on Disney property. We will just have to wait and see. But we will also be renting a car and doing pretty much the same routine as Michelle. That's how we've done it both times in the past and it works really well. I'm not sure if we will be doing the limo on the back end though. Although I think it would be really nice, sort of a conselation (sp) prize for us after being really bummed out for having to get off the ship. It will just all depend on our budget.

 

[disneydiva16]

You make an excellent point Andrea. I hadn't given it that much thought before, but now that you put it into perspective for me...it does make a lot sense. I just thought it would be easier to stay somewhere within shuttle distance, but I cant have people givin' me dirty looks about my luggage!!!

Also, I was thinking that we could go a couple days earlier and go to Disney for the girls b-day. They would get in free and I really like free! You had mentioned that you might go to disney for MNSSHP that fri. nite. Do they do that event every night or is it certain nights? I know you have to buy a seperate ticket to get in, but I didnt think they had released those dates yet.

Decisions Decisions...I have more investigating to do!!!!

PS. Would the mnsshp be included in the free admission for your birthday or do you think they will still require you to buy a ticket.

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

Robin ....MNSSHP would not be included in the FREE day. and only offered on certain dates not everday. However I will tell you having gone, I won't go to the Magic Kingdom unless I do a special event. My reasoning is I don't care what day you go you always have long lines, but if you do a special event you can get in at 4 even though they say 7 and they kick everyone else out who didn't buy a ticket at 7pm. When I have done special events, I have NEVER waited longer then 15 mins to get on a ride and most we walked right on. We did the whole park from4-midnight. It was so much nicer then going during the day. If you can I would go to MNSSHP on Thurs(if offered that day) and then another park on their B-day. Can u go in any park free on their b-day or just Magic Kingdom? Just suggestions.! We are considering doing MNSSHP too. We have friends in Orlando so we will stay with them, a few nts, Fri in port hotel and then of course to the best part, or stay after cruise and do MNSSHP if it's offered. All depends on airfare...spirit offering $13 each way right now...man I hope that is offered in Oct!!!!

 

[disneydiva16]

I believe that you can enter any park for your b-day. My favorite (of course) is the magic kingdom!! I always wanted to do the mnsshp, so this would be really fun for the girls. I dont know. I guess I have to wait and see when the dates are released if it falls on that Fri. before our cruise.

I can't believe you can get airfare for $13.00pp O/W. That is crazy!!! Syracuse,NY doesnt have any cheap carriers flying from here anymore. I wish they did because now I'm gonna have to drive to your house to catch that flight to Orlando

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

Robin , The airfare for spirit is out of detroit which is about 2 hrs from me but worth it to save that much. plus alot of the hotels have park-N- fly which is nice. Spirit flys outta laguardia(sp) however is that from you?

 

[kimmcbee]

We booked this cruise last week when on board. It will be myself, DH, DS14, DS11, and DS7. We had such a great week last week, cant wait to do this again. Need to catch up on what all is going on. Hope to get to know each of you soon.
Kim

 

[kimmcbee]

We booked this cruise last week when on board. It will be myself, DH, DS14, DS11, and DS7. We had such a great week last week, cant wait to do this again. Need to catch up on what all is going on. Hope to get to know each of you soon.
Kim

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

Hey Disney Dreamers..............Kristi here's an idea I found for our "disney dreams" i couldn't get it to appear in my text, so it's under my DIS name to the left. I thought it was cute. Anyhow if ya had a better idea ,,ok just thought it was cute!

 

[dismom73]

Welcome kimmcbee! I know we are getting closer because new people are joining the thread more often.

Robin, I found this thread and thought you might be interested...

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1984894

 

[disneydiva16]

Hi Kim...Glad you could join us Looking forward to talking with you!!!

Andrea-Thank you for that thread. We bought the disney transfers so we definatley have to stay near the airport. The Hyatt really does look like a nice hotel. I will try and see if I can get the price a little cheaper than what is published on their website. I will check hotwire and priceline.

Michelle-Laguardia is about a 5 hour drive from here. Not really an option. I know my husband wouldnt want to drive that far even if it saved us $$$$.
I really like the disney dreamers logo you found.

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

Welcome Kim.........Not to seem like I am prying but can you list your kids names...I am trying to be a good secretary and keep track plus if I decide to make something personal for the kids I don't want to leave anyone out.!!

Robin---I do believe that if you wanted you still can cancel disney transfers and transport yourself. Just a bit of FYI if you and your BFF go in together you can get ur own transfers cheaper. But do what is easier for you of course.!! And yeah I see 5 is to far to drive, 2 is as far as we will go. I don't care for the detroit airport but Cleveland doesn't have the deals I get from detroit. We actually have a lot of options, Detroit,cleveland, Columbus(Go Bucks). Everything will fall into place for you, just remember all that matters is the 7 nts aboard the Magic.

 

[jsheridan]

So we are staying at a comfort inn&suites on atlantic ave. I got a 2db and sofabed for $99. I thought it was good cause my sis and her family are splitting the cost and sharing the room. Though i heard I could go on priceline and try and get it for $50. As!

How did you get that rate? I just checked & it quoted me $160 for the night! We stayed there before our last cruise and it was very convenient so we planned on staying there again. But we paid around $75 last year...

ps - don't worry about guessing our names wrong. I never thought of it that way & it does make sense!

Julie